Lindner in government survey: allegations of inflation against the previous government - Corona aid should be phased out

Created: 2022-02-16Updated: 2022-02-16, 2:24 p.m

By: Marcus Giebel, Andreas Schmid

Question time mastered with confidence: Finance Minister Christian Lindner commented on the budget, on Corona aid or on the minimum wage.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Christian Lindner took part in a government survey.

The Bundestag discussed the budget, inflation, corona aid, the minimum wage and tax cuts.

Update from February 16, 2:13 p.m .:

Lindner is redeemed and can sit down again after a good hour.

As expected, the head of the FDP was able to get past Question Time with aplomb.

Update from February 16, 2:08 p.m .:

The AfD is now asking about an income tax reduction.

Lindner suggests a corresponding adjustment, but sees no majority in the Bundestag.

When comparing tax rates within Europe, one of the things that needs to be taken into account is which infrastructure is provided in the respective country.

Lindner questioned by the Bundestag: No majority for the abolition of the solidarity surcharge

Update from February 16, 1:52 p.m .:

The CDU/CSU faction now wants to know whether the commuter allowance will be increased.

Lindner is open to that, but wants to see whether there would be a majority in the Bundestag.

The AfD then wants to know whether the solidarity surcharge should not be abolished.

Lindner considers this unnecessary, but admits that there is no majority in the Bundestag for this.

Update from January 16, 1:44 p.m .:

When asked by the FDP parliamentary group, Lindner emphasized investments in climate protection and digitization.

The point is to emerge stronger from the situation.

The finance minister also brings up the super write-off.

According to him, no additional taxes should be introduced.

Update from February 16, 1:38 p.m .:

The left refers to the increase in the minimum wage.

How can it be prevented that employees are nevertheless cheated of this?

Lindner wants to prevent abuse and dumping, but also the burden on medium-sized companies.

It's about "fairness towards employees, but also towards honest employers".

Update from February 16, 1:28 p.m .:

The Greens are asking about the extension of the Corona aid.

Lindner thinks that the support should be gradually phased out.

But in some sectors, financial aid would still have to be used for the time being.

But the aim is to drive them back and let them run out.

Update from February 16, 1:25 p.m .:

The SPD is now addressing the budget.

Lindner explains that not everything that is desired can be implemented this year.

The background is the additional expenditure in connection with the Corona crisis.

He also explains: "We want to comply with the debt brake from 2023." This must already be taken into account when spending this year.

Lindner survey: Minister of Finance emphasizes underestimation of inflation by previous government

Update from February 16, 1:20 p.m .:

When asked by the left, Lindner emphasized the possibility of adjusting the basic security.

In addition, basic child security is just around the corner.

Update from February 16, 1:13 p.m .:

It continues with the AfD.

The question here is how the citizens should be relieved.

Among other things, Lindner refers to climate money and the planned elimination of the EEG surcharge this year.

Update from February 16, 1:10 p.m .:

The first question from the CDU/CSU group relates to inflation.

Lindner accuses the unselected government of underestimating the situation.

He relies on an adjustment of the tax rate.

Update from February 16, 1:04 p.m .:

Christian Lindner comes straight to the conflict with Russia in Ukraine.

He emphasizes that the government is counting on a peaceful solution, but that it cannot be ruled out that an iron fist will be used together with the partners.

The finance ministers of the EU agree on how to proceed.

Vladimir Putin has managed to get the EU and the transatlantic alliance to work closely together.

First report from February 15:

Berlin - On Wednesday (February 16), not only the Corona summit is on the political agenda.

At 1.05 p.m. there will also be a government survey in the Bundestag in the direction of Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

The content of the survey has not yet been determined.

In principle, the members of the Bundestag can ask whatever they want.

It is possible that the finance minister will have to face a nagging headwind in the direction of the current supplementary budget.

Government survey by Christian Lindner: Will a supplementary budget be an issue?

In order to finance climate protection, Christian Lindner wants to reallocate unused loans.

For the Energy and Climate Fund (EKF), the head of the FDP plans a total of 60 billion euros.

The Federal Court of Auditors considers this to be “constitutionally dubious”.

There was also harsh criticism from the opposition.

The Union even wanted to sue.

From the point of view of the auditors, there is no “direct causal connection”.

It is not explained conclusively that funds intended to combat the corona pandemic would have to be used *.

It is “simply claimed” that the climate funds are necessary to overcome the emergency situation caused by the pandemic.

Lindner may have to comment on this.

Other topics could also be the FDP's corona policy or the Ukraine crisis, although the latter does not necessarily fall within the area of ​​responsibility of a finance minister.

Government survey: Scholz and Habeck also had to face the plenum

During the regular session weeks, members of the Bundestag can receive information about the projects discussed in the federal government and ask questions to the responsible ministers every Wednesday after the cabinet meeting.

During this legislative period, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had to face a government survey on, among other things, corona policy and the planned compulsory vaccination.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has also been caught in the crossfire of parliamentarians.

It was actually planned that Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser* (SPD) would attend the appointment on Wednesday.

But now, with Christian Lindner, it is the turn of an FDP minister for the first time.